Expressen 101115
By: TT SPEKTRA
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
It took eight years for Helen Sjöholm to release a new studio album. A bit unexpectedly, it is a tribute in Swedish to Billy Joel. Out of pure selfishness, she says. It all depends on her husband David. Some time ago he was about to enter songs on the computer and suddenly she heard Billy Joel’s “She’s Always a Woman” in the speakers.
– There is an old favorite that I have listened to long ago. I had it on an old cassette tape, one of the few I kept. I’m suddenly fallen in love with the song, she says.
Not in English
For most people, Billy Joel’s most associated with songs like “Uptown Girl” and “Just the way you are”. But when Helen Sjöholm began to listen to the American singer’s tunes she fell for a bit more unknown songs. And she was sure of one thing – if there would be a CD she would not sing in English.
– An ordinary cover disc didn´t feel OK. I like it in Swedish. And Billy Joel is an amazing songwriter and lyricist, but many of the songs have a male perspective and feels maybe a bit time-related.
But who could translate the lyrics? Pretty soon, she ended up on her colleague Tomas Andersson Wij.
– I didn´t know so much about Billy Joel, but I like Helen Sjöholm a lot, says Tomas Andersson Wij and continues:
– If I’m honest, I think he is far from the best lyricists I’ve come across. It had been harder to translate an entire disc with Cohen or Dylan because I have such respect for them.
Less testosterone
A little more stripped down, more poetic and a bit less testosterone fueled. So you can summarize Helen Sjöholm’s Billy Joel-interpretations of her CD “Euforia”. And no, she doesn´t see an intended audience before her.
– It’s been such a selfish trip, I made what I felt for. 2010 has been hectic for Helen Sjöholm. Until the new year, she plays “Aniara” at Stockholm’s City Theatre and 23 September will be the theatrical release of “Simon and the oaks” in which she has a leading role.
– It’s an exceptional year for me. But it wasn´t possible to stop, sometimes you can not pause when things turn up, she says. Next year she will take it a little bit more easy – even though 2011 will begin with her first major tour in six years.
Helen Sjöholm about…
…how difficult it is to sing Billy Joel:
– The songs have a rather large range. But you don´t hear it because he sings so damn good and so easy. It´s not until you try it yourself as you realize how difficult it is.
…why “Just the Way You Are” not is included on the disc:
– Nothing happened inside my heart, I’ve heard it so much. It was more interesting to do things that got these two vocal cords to like to sing.
… other musicians who made good Swedish interpretations of famous songs:
– Mikael Wiehe, he has done a lot of nice things. And Lars Forssell.”
Tomas Andersson Wij about…
…his husband’s mother’s reaction to the Billy Joel-CD:
– When I told her that I had translated Billy Joel for Helen Sjöholm she said incredulously “Why?”. Six months later it emerged that she thought I meant Billy Idol.
… to “Just the way you are” not on “Euforia”:
– I called the record company after I had seen the track list and said ‘What the hell, the song is not included. Have you missed it? Do you not sell records or’ I could do a translation on it and it would be on the Swedish charts in a hundred years”. Now I think it was damn cool by Helen to choose her songs with such integrity. ”
… other musicians who made good Swedish interpretations of famous songs:
– Ulf Lundell. He did a whole album; ” Sweethearts”. I like it because it sounds like he wrote it. Olle Adolphson is also one of my favorites.
Facts / Billy Joel
American songwriter, pianist and singer born in 1949 in New York. He sold over 150 million records worldwide. Elected in 1999 in rock music’s Hall of Fame. Was perhaps best known in the 1970s – and 1980s with hit songs like “Just the Way You Are,” “Tell her about it” and “Uptown Girl”. Declared in the 1990s that he was tired of pop music.